...REALLY FAR AWAY next week and I'm not excited about it, even though I'm very excited for her! She is moving to Hawaii and she and her husband will be starting school out there. I'm a little envious of them living in tropical paradise, but I'm very happy for them that they are taking on new adventures together.
I decided to write her a letter on here as my next post.

Dearest Sugar Britches,

I don't know if you know how much you mean to me, so I thought, "what better way to tell you than to tell the whole world at the same time!" Andrea you probably don't know this, but you showed up in my life when I was in search of a big change, and I needed new girlfriends in a bad way. I was lonely and had been in an on again off again relationship with a guy that wore me out, and I couldn't stand it anymore. You showed up, told me I was pretty, and then started setting me up with really hot guys right and left. It was awesome and you were the friendship I was praying for! You always seemed to include me in things you were doing even though you barely knew me. I'd later find out, you're like this with everyone, and that's what makes you such an awesome person!

You have an amazing heart, and you open it to everyone you know and even those you don't know. I love this about you, and I've often wished I had your talent for meeting and befriending people. I've seen you open other people's hearts by keeping yours open. It's really cool to see, and I know you bless the lives of everyone you are close with.

I'm so proud of you and who you've become. I don't mean that to sound condescending either. You've done so many awesome things to become who you are, and I'm so excited for you. I can't wait to see what comes of your future with Westin. I really hope that even though you're moving across the ocean from me, we always stay friends. Working with you for the past year and a half was so great because I got to see you everyday. I'm really going to miss that. A LOT.

I'll always remember how much fun you, Ginene, and I had being trapped in California with an angry toothbrush-less ex of yours, or his weird friend and all of us ending up in a fight because we were sick of being stuck there. I'll remember how you helped me through breakups, and let me cry to you through them and always said things that helped me feel better about myself through it all.  You're super crazy and always can make people laugh even when they're sad. I always wanted you to end up with someone amazing, and I was so excited when you met Westin. You could be yourself completely, and I loved that. I wanted you to be with someone who you could be your super crazy self with. And I feel like even when he's around, I still get to see that side of you! I love him for you.

I'm so happy for you and what you're life is becoming. I'm so excited to be able to visit you in Hawaii. I've never been, and now I have a great excuse to come there! I love you so much, and I'm going to miss you sooooo much. I can't wait to hear about all your new adventures, and see what you guys have going on in your life. I know you'll be out there, helping a bunch of people get through hard times because that's just what you do. You've got such a giving heart. The people of Hawaii are so lucky to be getting you!

I will miss you so much, and I know I already said that, but you better expect tears the day you leave. I am so lucky to have a friend like you, and I am not excited to see you move away. Can we please stay friends even when we're both busy on opposite ends of the world?

Love you tons Sugar Britches... I can't believe you're moving! :( I can't believe it's happening in less than a week. I have no idea how things will be with you not in the same state as me anymore. I already feel sad while I'm writing this to you! Good luck with everything, and please, please, please keep in touch!

Love you,
Lana

So... I've been reading this health blog lately that talks about everything from nutrients and exercise to mental health. One person wrote that she wanted everyone to write a positive letter to themselves, and that by doing this it would boost their own morale. Well... since I'm exhausted and can barely think lately when I come home from work, I thought I'd try it. Here goes...

Hey Girl,

I know you feel like you're doing a crappy job at managing people because it seems like everyone is tired, and overworked including you... but you aren't. You are able to get them to work just as hard as you, and get their jobs done, even when deadlines seem so impossible (and are). Way to go on motivating them even though it's much easier to just take over and do everything yourself. (In this case you can't do everything yourself, that's why there are other employees there to help! It's just too much for one person).

I know you feel like you're a lazy butt lately too because you come home so tired everyday you bagged your running plan for a while... AGAIN. But just hang in there, you are doing something good for yourself by resting. You recognize the burnout signs, and while it's bad enough that you're too tired to drive much on freeways right now, you're protecting yourself by not wearing yourself out even more. Just think what would happen on the freeway if you had no energy left from running too!

It may seem that you're not doing very well at handling 8 months of a long distance relationship but you are. Sure sometimes you just want to cry because all you need to feel better that day is a hug from him, but he's 2,000 miles away and can't give you one.  You always hang in there. No one that really knows you thought you could handle this situation, except for you. So you did it anyway despite their misgivings about you and look how well you've done! You have made it through 6 1/2 months with way more strength than you ever thought you'd have.... I'd say you're pretty awesome. It may feel like you're going to explode when people complain about not seeing their boyfriend for 1 day, but you hold it in and try to be supportive of them anyway. Some of your friends say "I don't know how you do it," and you just smile and laugh even though inside you're going, "I HAAAAAAAAAAAATE IT." You just handle it the best you can, and really... you are handling it the very best you can.

These are just a few of the things that make you wonderful. I'll come up with more tomorrow or in a few days or something. Promise.

Sincerely,
Your awesome self

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I challenge all of you to do the same thing I just did. Honestly? In the 10 minutes I spent writing this, I just boosted my mood. And I was in desperate need of that since lately I am so worn out I feel sick. I'm so excited for my vacation in 36 hours. I need to see Justin so badly. It's been 3 months since I saw him last, and 6 1/2 months since he left. I'm so excited for this trip!!!!!

Let me know what you think of this idea, or even post a letter to yourself on my comments. I'd love to read anything you have to say on this topic.

Goodnight my wonderful friends!

So... I might as well have been my mom's twin sister. My musical loves these days often include a lot of what was around when she was in her teens and 20's... it's just SOOOO much better than a lot of the new music coming out. I love some new music that comes out but this song has always been a favorite of mine. I've been trying to memorize it on the piano. Memorizing is not my talent that's for sure.

Anyway, here's an actual music video that was made for this song by John Lennon. It's kind of strange, but the song is lovely.

Imagine - John Lennon